From mid-2027, passengers flying to or from the European Union will benefit from sweeping changes to airline fees, including the scrapping of charges for cabin luggage, seat selection for families, paper boarding passes, name corrections, and no-show penalties. The reforms, part of an update to the EU's 2004 Air Passengers' Rights Regulations, aim to increase transparency and reduce the hidden costs that have become common with budget carriers.
Who Is Covered?
The new rights apply to all passengers on flights departing from an EU airport, regardless of nationality, and to those arriving at an EU airport on an EU-registered airline such as Ryanair or Wizz Air. UK passengers flying from a UK airport on a UK-registered airline (e.g., easyJet or British Airways) to a non-EU destination are not covered by these EU rules but remain protected under the UK's domestic passenger rights scheme, UK261. The UK is also considering its own Civil Aviation Bill to enhance passenger rights.
Five Fees to Be Scrapped
1. Seat Charges for Families
Airlines will no longer be allowed to charge for seating children under 14 next to their parents. Pregnant women and passengers with reduced mobility will also have the right to sit with a travel companion free of charge.
2. Hand Luggage Fees
Comparison sites and airlines must display fares that include cabin luggage from the start. The advertised price must reflect the cost of a small personal item plus a small cabin suitcase. Airlines may offer a discount if passengers choose to travel with only a personal item, such as a handbag or laptop bag.
3. No-Show Penalties
If a passenger misses the outbound leg of a journey, airlines will no longer be allowed to cancel the return ticket. This practice, often called a 'no-show fee,' forced travellers to buy expensive last-minute return tickets. Under the new rules, the return booking must remain valid.
4. Boarding Pass Printing Fees
Airlines must offer passengers the option of a paper boarding pass without charging a fee. Some carriers, like Ryanair, have moved to digital-only passes, requiring passengers to use an app or pay for printing at the airport. The new regulations ban such charges.
5. Name Correction Fees
Airlines will be required to correct minor typos in passenger names free of charge. Currently, fees for name changes can exceed £100, especially for last-minute corrections. Carriers like Wizz Air and Ryanair already allow free minor corrections within 48 hours, but the new rules ensure this applies universally.
Compensation and Transparency
While the core compensation amounts for EU delays (€250–€600, or about £212–£510, for delays over three hours) remain unchanged, airlines must now proactively inform passengers of their rights when a delay occurs. Guidelines require airlines to provide written information on the cause of the delay and passenger rights within 96 hours of arrival. Passengers will have nine months to file a claim, and airlines must respond within 30 days, either paying compensation or providing a reason for refusal.
